# Alta Rock Art

> The rock art of Alta on the Alta Fjord has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1985.

Source: https://camping-spirit.com/places/alta-rock-art/

A UNESCO-listed area of rock carvings at Hjemmeluft, with boardwalks passing images of animals and hunting scenes. Visit with the adjoining museum for context, and note that carvings read best in low-angle light.

The rock art of Alta on the Alta Fjord has been on the UNESCO World Heritage List since 1985. It dates from roughly 5000 BC to around the year 0 and is regarded as the largest known concentration of rock art made by northern European hunter-gatherers. The World Heritage Site comprises five areas, the largest being Hjemmeluft, where more than 3,000 figures have been recorded, and over 6,000 across the municipality. Among the images are animals, boats and scenes from the hunters' lives.

Alta Museum, opened in 1991 and named European Museum of the Year in 1993, puts the carvings in context; it is best to visit it before walking around the site. It lies in a small bay of the Alta Fjord. Allow two to three hours in total.

- **Nearest town:** Alta, Norway
- **Category:** History & culture
- **GPS:** 69.9570, 23.2340

## Good to know

**Best time to go:** Cold, short days in October–April. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)

**Getting there:**

- **Norway: Electronic tolls by number plate.** Automatic toll roads and toll rings; many routes include car ferries. Motorway limit for cars: 110 km/h.

## Sources

- [Rock Art of Alta – UNESCO](https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/352)
- [Alta Museum – Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alta_Museum)

## Nearby

- [Nordkapp](https://camping-spirit.com/places/nordkapp/) – 164 km
- [Arctic Cathedral](https://camping-spirit.com/places/arctic-cathedral-tromso/) – 168 km
- [Siida](https://camping-spirit.com/places/b5-siida/) – 189 km

## FAQs

### Where is Alta Rock Art?

Alta Rock Art is in Alta, Norway, at GPS 69.9570, 23.2340. It is about 67 km from Lakselv.

### Can you camp near Alta Rock Art?

Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Alta River Camping, about 3 km away; within 25 km there are 7 campsites and motorhome stopovers.

### What is there to see near Alta Rock Art?

Places worth a stop nearby: Nordkapp (164 km), Arctic Cathedral (168 km) and Siida (189 km).

### When is the best time to visit Alta Rock Art?

Cold, short days in October–April. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)